© 2002 IBM Corporation

The presentation of phrasal verb

“get back”

by Weisheng Michelle

Leslifall2012

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The basic meaning of “get back”

1. <RETURN> to return to a place: Example : I’ll talk to you when I get back.

2. <DO STH AGAIN> to start doing something again or talking about something again.

Example : Let’s get back to the main point of the discussion.

3. <BE IN A STATE AGAIN> to change to a previous state or condition again.

Example : I couldn’t get back to sleep.

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Questions

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Question 1

He got back to the office just before lunchtime. The meaning of get back is :

A. return B. do sth again C. be in a state again D. others

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Question 2

He got back his son from the kidnappers. The meaning of get back is :

A. return B. do sth again C. be in a state again D. others

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Question 3

We got back the money after we threatened to sue the company. The meaning of get back is :

A. return B. do sth again C. be in a state again D. others

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Question 4

It wasn’t until we had sat down to eat that we got back to subject of Tom. The meaning of get back is :

A. return B. do sth again C. be in a state again D. others

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Question 5

You have 14 days in which you can cancel the contract and get your money back. The meaning of get back is :

A. return B. do sth again C. be in a state again D. others

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Question 6

Well, I must get back to work. The meaning of get back is :

A. return B. do sth again C. be in a state again D. others

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Question 7

Do you think they’ll get back together? The meaning of get back is :

A. return B. do sth again C. be in a state again D. others

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Answers

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1. A2. C3. D4. B5. D6. B7. C

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Answer 1

He got back to the office just before lunchtime. The meaning of get back is :

A. return B. do sth again C. be in a state again D. others

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Answer 2

He got back his son from the kidnappers. The meaning of get back is :

A. return B. do sth again C. be in a state again D. others

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Answer 3

We got back the money after we threatened to sue the company. The meaning of get back is :

A. return B. do sth again C. be in a state again D. others (GET STH AGAIN)

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Answer 4

It wasn’t until we had sat down to eat that we got back to subject of Tom. The meaning of get back is :

A. return B. do sth again C. be in a state again D. others

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Answer 5

You have 14 days in which you can cancel the contract and get your money back. The meaning of get back is :

A. return B. do sth again C. be in a state again D. others (GET STH AGAIN)

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Answer 6

Well, I must get back to work. The meaning of get back is :

A. return B. do sth again C. be in a state again D. others

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Answer 7

Do you think they’ll get back together? The meaning of get back is :

A. return B. do sth again C. be in a state again D. others

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The other usages of “get back”

1. get back at sb The meaning :to do something to hurt or harm

someone who has hurt or harmed you . Example: The divorce process should not be used

as a means to get back at your former partner….

2. get back to sb The meaning : to talk to someone to telephone them

later in order to answer a question or give them information.

Example : I’ll find out the prices and get back to you.

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Thank you!